The one on the right is neotropic. The left is Double-crested Cormorant.
” The area between the eye and the bill (supra-loral) is bright orange bare skin in Double-crested and feathered brown in Neotropic.” Double-Crested juveniles have a lighter breast.

Tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor)

Record shot only. Hopefully I will get a better one some time.

Laughing Gull(Larus atricilla)

Funny name but I fail to see the humour 🙁 The spanish name is Gaviota reidora.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

A late one that I have added. An immature Herring Gull. Spanish name Gaviota Plateada.

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterous ruber)

They are very pink here. Must be something in the water. Spanish name is flamenco. Work that one out!

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

I have not actually heard them singing. The spanish name is Cenzontle.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

I have never seen pelicans diving for fish before. They were going at it like gannets. Amazing. The spanish name is Pelicano cafe.

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

A big group of these came sailing past. They have a funny looking bump on the bill. Spanish name is Pelicano blanco americano.

March 16, 2018

Just down the road from the place I am staying at in Merida is the Parque Zoologico del Centenario. Tuesday afternoon after my spanish class I wandered down there to see what was there. I did not expect much. It is in the middle of a medium-sized city of a million people. But I got quite a surprise. There were heaps of birds there. And lots of new ones for me.

Orange Oriole (Icterus auratus)

The Orange Oriole has yellow or orange extending past the top wing line on this species. The Hooded Oriole has the black starting at the top of the wing line on the back. The Spanish name is Bolsero Yucateco.

White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)

White-eyed Vireos breed in north america and migrate south in the winter.

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) – male

The male is all red.

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) – female

Whereas, the female is all yellow.

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) – immature male

Summer Tanager moulting immature males can be patchy yellow and red.

Grayish Saltator (Saltator coerulescens)

The Grayish Saltator ranges from Mexico in the north to Argentina and Uruguay in the south, and is widespread in lowland scrub and semi-open areas.

Clay-coloured Robin (Turdus grayi)

The Clay colored Robin is in actuality a thrush and belongs in the Turdidae family.

Yucatan Woodpecker (Melanerpes pygmaeus)

The Yucatan Woodpecker is very similar to the Golden-fronted Woodpecker but the red mohawk is placed further back on the head. The spanish name is Carpintero yucateco.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

This Yellow-rumped Warbler practically jumped in front of me to get a drink of water from a leaking tap.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

The Cedar Waxwing is very easy to identify with its crest, yellow-tipped tail and red spots on the wings.

March 10, 2018

Day three at Xkobek camping and bee farm. A few more birds. They keep rolling in. It is like Groundhog Day.

Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)

The first bird I saw in the morning even before I had a cup of coffee!

White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons)

There were about four or five of these skwarking away. (How do you spell squarking. ???? )

Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)

Another flitting bird that was difficult to photograph. I should stop whingeing. (How do you spell whinging?)

Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)

I have no idea. I scoured the book and the internet but could not identify this bird. doh! Edit: I found it thanks to the clues from the Facebook ID crew. Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis).

Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa)

It is hard not to photograph these pretty birds.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)

This Golden-fronted Woodpecker has got his tongue right down this hole in the tree.

I had to do my Spanish test this morning so I can get put in the right Spanish class next week. I got a taxi to the Bus terminal and caught the 12:30 bus to Valladolid. I finally made it to the camping site and got my tent.

Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata)

The Masked Tityra is a very strange looking bird. I was very surprised when I saw it. The Mayan name for Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata) is Pelan K’euel. The Spanish name is Tityra enmascarada.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

I have nearly seen most of the Yucatan doves already. I got a bit excited over a few Rock Doves which I thought might be native pigeons. doh! The Mayan name for White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) is Sac Pakal and the spanish name is Paloma alas blancas.

Black Vulture (Coragpys atratus)

I have seen these in South America. I remember a sinister photo of one on a cross atop a church. Black Vulture Mayan name is Book Pool Ch’om. The Spanish name is Zopilote negro.

Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives)

There are some similar birds to these. The Melodious Blackbird has dark eyes and a longish tail. The Mayan name for Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives) is Pich. The Spanish name is Tordo cantor.

Mexican spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata)

This Iguana negra was hanging around the top of the cenote at the camp site.

March 6, 2018

Holy crap I got lots of photos today. So many. I will just get stuck into them without any further ado.

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

Just hanging out on a busy road in Cancun. Meh.

Red-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas flavirostris)

Spanish name is Paloma Morada. This one was inside the park.

Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives)

At first I thought this was a cowbird with the sharp short bill.

Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)

Olive-throated Parakeet (Aratinga nana)

Another one hanging out next to a busy road. Maybe aka Aztec Parakeet.

Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)

I thought these scratched around on the ground. This one likes busy roads too.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)

Got this one in Macca’s carpark. doh!

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)

Spanish name is Calandria Encapuchada.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Majestic soaring bird. Awesome.

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) – female

I had been seeing these smaller birds like grackles but thought they were another type. doh!

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla

Really bad light on the forest floor and a truly appalling photo. And I have no idea what it is. Maybe it is a Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia). no its not. too small. Edit: thanks to the experts at the World ID page on facebook. Louisiana Waterthrush. forages primarily on the ground, near streams. supercilium wider at the back. Who would have thought? Lesser streaking than the Northern Waterthrush. Family Parulidae.

Unknown Duck

Cancun Animals

And it keeps going. Here are some animals I saw today.

Meso-American slider (Trachemys venusta)

Spanish name is Tortuga Pavor Real, much nicer than the english one. ” Meso-American slider (Trachemys venusta) is a species of turtle belonging to the family Emydidae with a distribution from Mexico to Colombia. ” (wiki).

white-nosed Coati (Nasua narica)

There was a whole mob of these terrorising the fitness freaks. Some dude was feeding them bread. I can imagine them getting really out of hand. ” The Coati is a member of the raccoon family (Procyonidae), a diurnal mammal native to South America, Central America, and south-western North America. The term is reported to be derived from the Tupi language of Brazil. ” (wiki).

I flew into Cancun last night from Madrid. It was a gruelling 9 hour flight. And no movies but at least we got a free feed. Actually Wamos Air would be the cheapest way ever to get from Europe to Central America. This morning I went for my first ever visit to Walmart. It was underwhelming. Aldi is much better. Around here it is very americanized. I even got a simcard from AT&T! After that exciting adventure I got my camera out and walked along the edges of Parque Kabah.

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

These Great-tailed Grackles are amazing. They are everywhere, like crows.

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

I could not believe this photo when I saw it up close. I have cropped it heaps but it is about 100%. What is going on with its tongue. Wow, so weird. I could not find any information online.

Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti)

I have a feeling I have seen these in Peru or somewhere in South America. Will check. Nope. Must have been another Ground-dove. Checking again. Croaking Ground-dove in Lima, October 2010.

Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 90%

Couch’s Kingbird. Tyrannus couchii has a medium sized bill, Grey head with dark mask through the eye, Greenish yellow back, light throat with lemon yellow underparts (birdzilla.com).
Eddie from World ID group says “anything in cancun there is 90% chance tropical kingbird, 9.99% chance couch’s. U gotta listen to their vocalization to distinguish. ” So I am taking the percentages and betting on Tropical Kingbird. Any takers?

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)

This Yellow-throated Warbler was going manic up in a tree. It could not sit still for a second. It was a nightmare trying to photograph it.

Social Flycatcher ( Myiozetetes similis)

These look so much like a Great Kiskadee, I had to check it thoroughly. I am pretty sure, but.

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

I have seen Great Kiskadee in Argentina, I am pretty sure. Checking. Costanera Sur, Buenos Aires, July 2010. And check the yellow patch on top of the head. Well that is it. Some of the common birds out of the way on my first day. Five ticks is not bad for a walk around the block.